Exploration Activity: Exploratory Well At Kilauea East Rift Geothermal Area (FURUMOTO, 1976)

This study was conducted to create a model of the thermal structure of Kilauea for the purposes of analyzing geothermal potential as part of the coordinated exploration program for geothermal sources on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Notes

Three exploratory wells were drilled in the Puna area in 1961. The most promising well had a temperature of 92°C. The water table was right around sea level and the hot water layer was found to be very thin. High permeability due to cracks between successive volcanic flow layers was discovered.